Former DEC employee fined $15,000

The Commission on Public Integrity has settled on a fine for a former DEC worker who wrongly solicited federal funding for a post-state-retirement job from the federal government.
Does that mean he was federally feathering his nest?
Either way, Clifton Van Guilder’s efforts to fund a job for himself will cost $15,000.
Here are the details:

A former employee of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has agreed to pay $15,000 to settle charges that he violated the State Code of Ethics by soliciting the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to fund a post-employment position for himself at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL). DOE holds a license from DEC for its operations at KAPL.

Clifton VanGuilder, a former Environmental Engineer III, sought an illegal gift and an unwarranted privilege by asking DOE to fund the position for him. He also was charged with acting in a way that would lead to the impression that he was violating his public trust. Specifically, Mr. VanGuilder was charged with violating Public Officers Law Sections 73(5) and 74(3)(d), (f) and (h).

The matter was referred to the Commission by the Department of Environmental Conservation. Barry Ginsberg, Executive Director of the Commission, thanked DEC for its assistance throughout the course of the investigation.

The Notice of Reasonable Cause and the Settlement Agreement are available on-line at http://www.nyintegrity.org/enforcement/